The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. This included a Game six victory where a hostile Boston crowd booed Ralph Sampson, sapping his confidence to the point he only had 8 points on 3-12 shooting. Unlike some of the other players that have gone down in NBA History, Larry didnt leave his team whatsoever. By: HoopsHype. This struggle did not deter Bird. This site is a participant in the Impact Affiliate Platform which is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Fanatics.com . Finally, lets discuss the NBA Finals. Even with Jordan exploding, only game two was close at 135-131. His performances included scoring 60 points against the Hawks which is still a Boston record to this day. Summary: Larry Bird's Finals Record. Scott Rafferty is a Senior NBA Editor for The Sporting News. Magic Johnson's rivalry with Larry Bird sparked greatest NBA Finals The 1985 NBA Finals & Brawling Larry Bird Larry wouldnt have been a controversial choice, but Cedric Maxwell was the emotional center of the Celtics and meant so much to the teams culture. Larry Bird won the NBA Finals MVP two times. Larry Bird won three NBA championships in his basketball career. Net Worth, Salary & Earnings of Larry Bird in 2023. The next year, the NBA Finals switched to the 2-3-2 format with Game 5 going to the team without home-court advantage, which continued through 2013. The Celtics won the Finals convincingly 4-2. Only game 3 finished within ten points with the Cs winning 111-107. Larry Joe Bird (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Right 6-9, 220lb (206cm, 99kg) . Sadly for Bird, Michigan State were just too much for him as the Spartans ran out 75-64 winners. The 86 Celtics are in the conversation for best team ever with Bill Walton joining Bird, Robert Parish and. Larry Bird Net Worth. Larry Bird starred at Indiana State University before joining the NBA's Boston Celtics in 1979. . Larry Birds First NBA Championship 1981. Who Did Larry Bird Lose To In the NBA Finals? Pretty good matchup between he and MJ. Allen Iverson Jersey Mitchell and Ness: A Complete Guide. This was the Celtics' first appearance in The Finals since their 1976 championship winning team against the Phoenix Suns.The Celtics were not quite the same team as five years before, as they added the likes of Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale, a trio that would come to be known as "The Big Three." M. L. Carr, Cedric Maxwell, and Nate Archibald were also capable players off the . In 1987 the Lakers once again beat the Celtics in the NBA Finals. The NBA unveiled two new postseason awards on Thursday morning: the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and Western Conference Finals MVP. Games. Since then Bird won a championship in 1981, then Magic led the Lakers to the finals in 1982 and 1983, winning in the former. Two superstars, Magic and Larry, and the two most iconic teams in the leagues history, the Lakers and the Celtics. The 1984 NBA Finals was the first championship meeting between old rivals Boston and Los Angeles since 1969. Or maybe youre a younger fan wondering if Bird really deserves his place in the Pantheon of basketball greats. The Hawks also still had good rebounder Tree Rollis. He finished 1986 with averages of 25-10-7. The Celtics won the first three games by an average of 6 points before the Hawks got their only win at home. The Celtics won the series, with Bird getting a triple double in the deciding game six. Both times it was to his rival dating back to college: Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:46PM. Magics Michigan State team won the game 75-64, preventing Bird from winning a title for Indiana State. In the final game of the tournament, Larry Bird and his erstwhile unbeaten Indiana State Sycamores lost to Magic Johnson and his Michigan State Spartans by the score of 7564. Larry Bird Championships: He Defeated the Best! The Cs turned up the D and Bird was everywhere. The Celtics had hope they could avenge the loss of two years prior. Larry Bird's Famous Wife Not Everyone Knows - msn.com In the 198384 season, the Celtics won 62 games to lead the league. Julius Erving | Biography, Stats, & Facts | Britannica Larry Bird was a star. This Finals had everything. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. He was the only NBA Rookie of the Year, MVP, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the . Same ammount of titles, Lebron has more MVP's and FMVP's, played longer etc. Celtics Starters: Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. The Celtics then took the series lead for the first time by winning Game 5 but the thoroughbred Lakers sent the series to a Game 7 with their own double-digit win. They did make the playoffs the year after and many thought that they would easily repeat at first. Johnson evened the series after helping the LA . He was a monster, averaging 22-16 in this Finals series. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. The Lakers fell in the Western Conference finals to a new team that sprung up seemingly out of nowhere. Noise Group Limited is a UK registered company. L.A. went on to blow out the Celtics in Game 3 but the resilient Celtics responded with a 129-125 OT win in Game 4 which was sealed by Carrs steal at the buzzer. . Houston had gone 40-42 in the 1980-81 regular season compared to Boston's 62-20 season under second-year Celtics sensation Larry Bird you may have heard of him. How to say Basketball in different languages? So lets look at the 1984 NBA season. The Celtics struggled to slow down finals MVP Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bird struggled compared to his incredibly high standards. Celtics forward Larry Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). Larry Bird won three championships as a player, but did not win any as a coach. What are the abbreviations on the NBA table. BIrd averaged 27.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.0 assist per game for the series. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. The Laker momentum was stalled, and Larry Bird came up with a crucial jumper over Magic Johnson with 16 seconds remaining in overtime, then M.L. The Boston Celtics won the 1981 NBA Championship in six games giving Larry Bird his first NBA title. Larry Birds Finals record is in the lower half of the list of all-time greats below. All the playoff action was documented on the 1984 NBA Season documentary Pride and Passion, narrated by Dick Stockton. Larry Bird's Celtics made the Finals in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. After . The Celtics ended up shedding the ghosts of the last season and convincingly won 4-1. 1956 Thanks in main to two close overtime wins, Boston won the series in seven games despite Bird struggling in the deciding game. Larry Bird could do it all on the basketball court. Bird scored 53 points against the Indiana Pacers, which broke Sam Jones' record set in 1965. The American greatest basketball still worked as a coach and executive in the NBA, which had indeed led him to get over the low . [2] It was also the last time that a team with home court advantage in the NBA finals played Game 5 on its own floor until 2014. The Lakers destroyed the Cs in their first home game 137-104 in game 3. In addition to Nique, the Hawks starred Kevin Willis. . Why did David Stern Veto the Chris Paul to the Lakers Trade? He made the Finals five times in his thirteen-year career, winning the championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986. Larry Bird's Finals Record: An All-Time Great! - Sports Nostalgia HQ And, to be clear, he came by it honestly. Data runs from 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted. Key Names off the Bench: Kevin McHale, Gerald Henderson, Rick Robey and M.L. Thanks for signing up. The first two meetings of the season between Cleveland and Boston took OT, but the Celtics were able to sneak a 117-113 win at home. The Houston Rockets were led by their Twin Towers, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. Bird poured in 39 in game 7 to lead the Cs to 30.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 7.1 assists for the series. NAME. Larry averaged 23-13-7 on his way to a four-game sweep. In 1981, 1984 and 1986, it was Bird who led the Boston Celtics to championships, with him taking home two Finals MVP awards. Though just looking at his record can get a bit confusing. Larry Bird picked up the 1984 MVP award and led his Celtics to the first seed in the Eastern Conference with a 62-20 overall record. Keep reading to learn more about each championship win, the series leading up to the finals, and each Larry Bird championship season. Magic led the Lakers to victory at home in game 6, setting the stage for a Boston Garden Game 7. He held this role for five seasons before being offered the Indiana Pacers head coach role. Bird did not technically average a triple double for the series because both his rebounds and assists were slightly below 10 and Ive rounded them, but, still, those stats are unreal. Birds mother, Georgia, once said that she couldnt fathom he sons NBA salary and, despite his earning power, insisted that she wasnt out buying expensive clothes. He was the NBA Finals MVP in 1981, and the . Larry Bird Reacts to Eastern Conference Finals MVP Trophy Named After It went back and forth but the Celtics were able to walk away with a massive victory to seal the series. While everyone has their own favorite NBA players, its impossible to argue with Larry Birds position in the all-time basketball pantheon. They beat the Rockets twice and the Lakers once to win NBA titles. Bird's Boston Celtics won the NBA championship three times during his career (1981 and '86 vs. the Houston Rockets, '84 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers), and Bird won Finals MVP in '84 and '86. He averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 . Magic beat Larry in their college showdown, but Bird made sure he got his revenge in 1984. How to say Basketball in different languages? His accolades are countless, with the former Indiana State man being an NBA legend. Hey, it's enough to make Allen Iverson burn his Celtics throwbacks. It featured the first time that Larry Bird met Magic Johnson in the NBA Finals, their first head-to-head championship meeting since the 1979 NCAA title game. Larry was no slouch, averaging 15-15-7 in a 4-2 series win. That went to Birds teammate. Two-time National Basketball Association champion Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell points to the pillars of the game when it comes to the question, "Who is the greatest NBA player of all time?" "I measure it by those who changed the game," said the former Boston Celtics standout on Sunday afternoon while taking part in the Legends & Stars Sports Expo at Batavia Downs Gaming. All-NBA First-Teamers NOT in the Hall of Fame, Basketball Positions 101: Understanding the Different Roles on the Court, The Best NBA Players to NOT Make the Hall of Fame, The Best All-Defensive Team in NBA History, The All-Time Worst NBA Finals Performances by a Superstar by Position. In terms of individual honors, he won the 1979-80 Rookie of the Year title, claimed three MVP crowns, and earned two NBA Finals MVP nods. Michael Cooper Explains What Made Larry Bird 'Larger Than Life' - MSN It's clear the two dominated the decade, but who got the better of who? How Many Finals MVPs Does Larry Bird Have? Find out more. Larry Bird's career NBA stats. He led the Cs to a Conference Finals appearance once or twice in the ensuing years but the team just wasnt nearly as competitive anymore and it was obvious that Larry was getting up there in age. According to Basketball Reference, Johnson and Bird played against each other 18 times in the regular season throughout their careers. There were three Larry Bird championships with the Boston Celtics: in 1981, 1984 and 1986. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, starting with their first . Michael Jordans First Championship: An Epic Run! There are so many different titles that Bird has. Bird is a universally known NBA legend and is often credited with the NBAs explosion of popularity in the 1980s. The big reason of course for this is Magic Johnson and the Lakers. Larry Bird's 1986 Playoff Stats . Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game for the series. No matter which side of the aisle you find yourself on, though, Larry Bird has you covered. NBA Finals: Ranking the top Finals performers in NBA history - HoopsHype Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA Draft, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1998 (Full List), More Larry Bird pages at Sports Reference. Noise Group Limited is a UK registered company. The Cs won games five and six by two points each to reach game 7. Get to know Larry Bird: Stats, records and more - RSN It did not slow Bird down as he won a title the next season with the now legendary 86 Celtics. This series prompted Bird to quote, Thats God disguised as Michael Jordan. Michael averaged 43 points through the three-game series. Bird was named Finals MVP after averaging 27.4 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in the series. J Erving, The Sixers swept a weak Indiana Pacers team in round 1 (2-0) then went seven games to defeat a tough Milwaukee Bucks team starring Bob Lanier, Marques Johnson and. He averaged a career-high 29.9 points that year, falling just five points . So, for me, being back in the old Boston Garden for Game 7, with twelve seconds left on the clock, and knowing that we were going to be world champions when absolutely no one gave us a chance but usthat is the thing that I remember the most.. After the tournament, both entered the NBA in the 197980 season with high expectations. NY Knicks 4-3, 1984 Eastern Conference Final: Celtics def. The famous forward might not have been the most athletic man ever to hit the hardwood, but that wasnt a problem. At the end of the season, Bird was named Coach of the Year. While Bird did not have the finals success of a Jordan or Russell, he still had a better record than greats including LeBron and Wilt. Boston had lost the previous two matchups to the Cavs and they were hungry for revenge last night. JJ Redick Tried to Clarify His Stance on Larry Bird and '80s Basketball In Game 2, the Lakers led 113-111 with 18 seconds left when Gerald Henderson stole a James Worthy pass to score a game tying layup. The Western Conference Finals also led to one of the greatest game-winners ever. Join our linker program. Larry Bird: Career retrospective | Yardbarker LeBron James' teams have met or exceeded expectations in NBA Finals Malone is an underrated player, not as well-known as he should be. The Pacers got their revenge on the Knicks, winning the eastern conference finals in six games to go up against the Lakers. Birds college career as a whole was exceptional. Larry Bird would go after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar later on in the third quarter, and 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell further antagonized the Lakers by following a missed James Worthy free throw by crossing the lane with his hands around his own neck, symbolizing that Worthy was "choking" under pressure. This was brought on after Ralph had an altercation with a Boston player in game five. Bird scored almost 26 points per game in winning his third-straight MVP award. Your email address will not be published. He stayed loyal to the Celtics throughout his entire career and they were the team that reaped the benefits of his five NBA Finals appearances and three NBAchampionships. talent just don't get it. In total, Larry Bird went to five NBA finals in his career. NBA Awards - Finals MVP - National Basketball Association - ESPN Instead of battling fatigue and exhaustion from their grueling Semi-Finals series, they went on to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. Head to Head: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson | Stathead.com During that year Lesley Visser, Stockton's wife, became the first woman to cover the NBA Finals for CBS. Larry, to his credit, was phenomenal. These performances earned Bird his second MVP award. Houston Rockets 4-2, who would briefly play with Bird later in his career, the greatest non-final series in NBA history, Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. Flynn. The Bullets featured Jeff Ruland a really good, likely underrated, player who was at his peak. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. If you are interested in Larry Bird Championships, you might be interested in checking out some of these posts I have written about Larry Legend. The Celtics beat the Lakers 4-3, winning by nine points in the deciding Game 7. The Philidelphia 76ers were led by NBA Hall of Famer Julius Erving, Andrew Toney, and Darryl Dawkins. The Boston Celtics were matched up against the Houston Rockets, led by Hall of Famer Moses Malone. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Fanatics.com and other companies linked to on this site. Maybe you lived through the glory days of the 1980s Celtics but you cant quite remember how Bird got his rings. His first MVP award was in 1984. How Many Championships did Larry Bird win? - Basketball Noise If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Bird's 3 wins came against the Rockets (1981 & 1986) and the Lakers (1984). J Erving, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. They snuck into the playoffs because of a weak Central division. All three broke into laughter, led by Russell's infamous cackle. As weve mentioned, all these players were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Bird also won Finals MVP in 1986 when he scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out 10 assists and had 2.7 steals per game. In his first trip to the NBA Finals, Tatum averaged 21.5 points, seven assists and 6.8 rebounds, but the Celtics came up short. In the Western Conference Finals the Rockets handled the defending champion Lakers in five games. This site is a participant in the Impact Affiliate Platform which is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Fanatics.com . Birds Celtics also defeated a very different Rockets team in 1981. Regardless, Johnson and Bird are widelyregarded as beingtwo of thegreatest players to have ever played the gameand they made for one of the greatest rivalries, one that will never be forgotten. Known as "Larry Legend," Bird has achieved incredible success in his career, earning multiple awards and holding numerous records. It was Boston's worst playoff defeat in franchise history to that date. Who is the highest paid NBA player in the 2021-2022 Season? The number two-seeded Bucks went down in a series sweep, with all five Celtics starters averaging double-digit points. larry bird finals record - josieya By the end of the 1984 season Bird had won his second NBA title, both with the Celtics. The Los Angeles Lakers won both games in the regular season series: The Lakers opened the series with a 115-109 victory at Boston Garden. He averaged 27.4 points, 14.0 boards and 3.6 assists per game for the series. After dispatching MJ, the Cs cruised by Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Semis. Home; Tickets; Schedule. The #1 and #2 seeds were set to face off in the Conference Finals. In his career, Larry Bird won three NBA regular season MVP awards. BOSTON (AP) June 12, 1984: The Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers 111-102 in Game 7 in the first NBA Finals between Boston's Larry Bird and Los Angeles' Magic Johnson . Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals . A superstar. Larry Bird NBA Finals Stats | StatMuse the Celtics posted a 61-21 record and defeated the Houston Rockets to take the first NBA . Furthermore, Johnson and Bird earned five of the 10 MVP awards handed out during the 1980s. This was Birds last finals appearance, meaning that he went to five NBA finals overall, winning 3. Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird: Was LA Lakers or Boston Celtics Legend The Pacers had two pretty comfortable series to begin the 1998 post season with wins over the Cavaliers and the Knicks. The Boston Celtics legend is one of three players in NBA history to win three straight MVPs, and he helped the C's win three championships in the 1980s.. Bird, along with Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson, helped take the NBA to another level. My favorite quotes about Larry Bird - CelticsBlog Teaming with players like Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, Maxwell was an essential player on Boston teams that won NBA championships in both 1981 and 1984. Michael Jordans First Championship: An Epic Run! The 1987 NBA Finals again saw the Los Angeles Lakers up against Birds Celtics. However, this was not the case. It was yet again against the Lakers and they split the first two games 1-1. Bird's Pacers fell in the East finals in '98 and '99, then came up short in the NBA Finals in 2000 against the Los Angeles Lakers. What Was Michael Jordans Playoff Record? Also, Bird pushed Michael Cooper to the baseline following the inbound play during the second quarter. What is Larry Bird's record in the NBA Finals? - Quora After the game, Larry Bird said his team played like "sissies" in an attempt to light a fire under his teammates. Bird had a good series in other categories, but did not score at his normal rate. Bird became only the third player in NBA history to win three titles in a row. Larry Bird (Larry Legend; The Hick from French Lick) Position: Forward 6-9, 220lb (206cm, 99kg) School: Indiana State (Men) Draft: Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA draft. You have to really understand the circumstances in each Finals run and see how he ended up with the record that he has right now. Atlanta Hawks 4-1, 1986 Eastern Conference Final: Celtics def. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. In Game 5, the Celtics took a 3-2 series lead with a 121-103 victory, as Larry Bird scored 34 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. How Does Larry Birds Finals Record Compare to Other Great NBA Players? They easily won their first round series against the Washington Bullets as they were named at that time, then advanced and knocked off the New York Knicks in a seven-game series. Unfortunately for the Pacers and Larry Bird, the Lakers were just too much for the Pacers. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. His individual performance was recognised all across the NBA as he helped Boston to a then record breaking 67-15 regular season record. Background. Despite the similarities, the Lakers won the series in six games. He and Chauncey Billups are the only two retired players to win Finals MVP but not to make the Hall of Fame. Aside from the two stars, the teams were among the most stacked in history. Bird vs. Magic: Stats, Rings & Head-to-Head Record | Heavy.com While the 22111 format remained intact for the remainder of the playoff rounds, the 232 format would be used until 2013. And, as if that wasnt enough, Bird found success after hanging up his sneakers. And after watching the Lakers face the Philadelphia 76ers twice during the 1982 and 1983 Finals, they were determined to win in 84. Bird's 2 Finals losses both came against the Lakers and Magic Johnson , 1985 & 1987. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Bird averaged 24.2 points,10.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in the 1983-84 season. The games were close enough but never really in doubt. Averaging 30-10-7 with 3 steals. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Despite the changes, it did not stop the Lakers from finishing with the best record (5428) in the Western Conference, powered by their one-two punch of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. Many were expecting another Lakers-Celtics matchup, but it just wasnt in the cards this Finals. From a statistical perspective, he also averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists across his career. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird's rivalry - Sportskeeda How Larry Bird was robbed of the 1981 NBA playoff and - CelticsBlog Bird outscored Dr. J 26.7 to 19.9 ppg in the series, led all players in rebounds and was second on Boston in assists. The trade signaled a transition period, as some of the key players from the first two championships gave way to younger talent. Bird averaged 26.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game for the series. Now, the explanation. Their rivalry was second to none and saw them meet up in the NBA Finals three times. In the playoffs, the team went 15-3 en route to winning the championship. 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, "Here Are Some Final Facts on NBA Playoffs", Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs, The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1984_NBA_Finals&oldid=1141615206, 20th century in Los Angeles County, California, Basketball competitions in Inglewood, California, May 1984 sports events in the United States, June 1984 sports events in the United States, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, No. . Another book that demonstrated the competitive drive amongst athletes was, Magic/ Bird written by Eric Simonson. He won his second NBA Finals MVP. 1979-80 Bird 1980-81 Bird 1981-82 Bird 1982-83 Bird 1983-84 Bird 1984-85 Bird 1985-86 Bird 1986-87 Bird 1987-88 Bird 1988-89 Bird 1989-90 Bird 1990-91 Bird 1991-92 Bird 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 82 82 77 79 79 80 82 74 76 6 75 60 45. Nevertheless, it is rare to see a player dominate in so many areas of the game, theres no wonder why the Celtics made multiple deep playoff runs. Larry Birds Celtics made the Finals in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Larry Bird is 6-9. Larry Bird Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more If you are thinking of buy an NBA jersey then check out the official retailers of the NBA below. The Cs closed it out winning game four by 3 points. One of the most feared competitors during the 1980s was Larry Bird, who won three championships with the Celtics during the decade, destroying teams through his versatile style and killer, lights-out shooting.
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